Politics: Mitt Romney keeps dropping hints he's running for Senate — here's how the 70-year-old went from the world of investing to saving the Olympics and losing the presidency twice

Is former Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney considering a run for the US Senate seat in Utah? Here's a look back at his life and career in politics.

When Mitt Romney,, lost the presidential election in 2012, pundits declared his time in politics over. But now the 70-year-old Republican seems to be mulling a comeback.
After Sen. Orin Hatch of Utah announced in January that he would retire at the end of his term this year, rumors started swirling that Romney would run for his seat.
While he hasn't officially thrown his hat into the ring, Romney recently changed his location on Twitter in an apparent attempt to make it known that he resides in Utah, where residency is required to run for office. The former governor of Massachusetts said he'll make an announcement "about the Utah senate race" on February 15.
As Republican support for a potential Romney senate campaign grows, let's take a look back at the former presidential contender's life and career:

Willard Mitt Romney was born on March 12, 1947, in Detroit, Michigan.

He was introduced to politics at an early age. His father, George Romney, served as the governor of Michigan and the secretary of Housing and Urban Development under President Richard Nixon.

He started attending Stanford University in 1965. He would ultimately graduate from Brigham Young University with a B.A. in English.

Source: The Washington Post

In the late 1960s, he spent nearly three years as a Mormon missionary in France.

Romney would eventually become the first Mormon to represent a major party in his run for president in 2012.

He started dating Ann Davies in high school. They got married in 1969 and have been together ever since.

Together, Ann and Mitt have five sons: Tagg, Josh, Matt, Craig, and Ben.

Ann has helped, in part, to drive Mitt's political ambitions. In 1993, she reportedly urged him to run for the US senate.

Source: Deseret News

After graduating from Harvard law and business school in 1975, Romney started a career in management consulting and private equity. Founder Bill Bain said that when Romney started at his firm, "he had the appearance of confidence of a guy who was maybe 10 years older."

Sources: The Boston Globe, The New York Times

In 1994, he made his first foray into politics, challenging Democratic Sen. Edward Kennedy for his seat in Massachusetts. Romney ultimately lost and returned to the private sector.

In 2002, Romney made a return to public service to head the struggling Salt Lake Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games in Utah.

He helped turn the organization around and used his success as proof of his leadership abilities while running for political office.

After his stint running the Olympics in Utah, Romney ran for governor of Massachusetts.

He ultimately defeated his democratic opponent, Shannon O'Brien. Romney served one 4-year term as governor.

In 2006, Romney signed a health reform bill into law. So-called "Romneycare" required Massachusetts residents to either buy a plan or pay a fine. The law ironically became a source of controversy during the 2012 election amid President Barack Obama's attempts to implement the Affordable Care Act, which included a similar individual mandate provision.

As governor of a mostly left-leaning state, Romney projected himself as a moderate Republican.

Source: Mother Jones

In 2008, Romney ran for president. He lost to John McCain during the Republican primaries.

Following McCain's defeat, support for Romney eventually propelled him into becoming the Republican presidential contender in 2012.

But Romney had trouble connecting with voters. Many viewed him as elitist and privileged thanks to his work in private equity and decades in politics. During the campaign, a video leaked showing Romney calling 47% of voters "entitled" and "dependent upon the government," further damaging his image.

Source: Politifact

The infamous '47% comment' played a significant role in Romney's defeat. Obama handily won reelection.

After the election, Romney kept a relatively low profile as most defeated presidential candidates tend to do. In 2015, he reemerged in a charity boxing bout with five-time heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield.

As the 2016 presidential election approached, rumors swirled that Romney was considering a third run for higher office. Everything changed when Donald Trump announced his candidacy.

During the 2016 campaign, Romney slammed Trump, calling him a "phony," "fraud," "con man," and "fake."

Source: Business Insider

Romney dialed back his anti-Trump rhetoric after Trump won the election. During the presidential transition, Romney had a private dinner with Trump, fueling speculation that he might be appointed to a position in the president's cabinet.